Oysters roasting

Oysters are not what typically come to mind when you’re going to a friend’s place for a dinner roast. But don’t be fooled by its natural slippery and slimy flesh. Roast oysters are a delicious alternative to your typical Sunday roast – and here’s a quick guide on how to cook them!

Pre-cooking preparations

To prepare oysters, removed all dirt off it by scrubbing down the outside of the shells with a scrub brush and cold water. Be careful though, as oyster shells can be quite sharp – particularly around the edges. So you may need gloves for this process. Discard any oysters with open or cracked shells, as they may be compromised. Then, let the oysters sit under water briefly, and then remove them from the water while letting them drain.

What is very important in roasting oysters is that you should not dry them. The excess moisture will create steam that will loosen the hinge muscle and make the oyster easier to open. If the oysters are too dry, it can explode.

Prepare your oven or grill

Yes, you can roast oysters with an oven or a grill! If using a charcoal or gas grill, bring it to a medium high heat. If you’re using the oven, set the temperature to 220 degrees Celsius.

Alternatively to using a grill rack for your oven method, you can prepare a baking pan to lay your oysters in. If using a baking pan, fill the pan halfway with rock salt. Then place pan in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes until the rock salts are very hot.

Decide on whole or half-shell cooking

Cooking oysters whole will prevent you from seasoning the meat until you’re ready to eat them. So if you do want to season your oysters before cooking them, you will need to open them, or “shuck” them, before popping them in the grill or oven. Don’t eat oysters that don’t put up some resistance when being shucked. After opening them, add in your seasoning into the half of the shell with the meat attached to it.

Cooking the oysters

If you have chosen to cook the oysters on the whole, lay your oysters on the grill rack, or on the hot rock salt in the baking pan, flat-side down. Cook the oysters until the shell slightly opens. It should take around 5 to 10 minutes. Oysters that don’t open after that time should be disposed of.

To cook them on the half-shell, place it on the grill or baking pan with the meat facing up. Their liquid will come to boil and cook the meat. This should also take around 5 to 10 minutes to cook as well.

Eat and Enjoy!

Utilising the little opening of its shell, carefully pry open the oyster’s shell with a spoon or knife. You can add extra seasoning or sauces to the or gulp down the meat as it is.